NJDOE News

Contact: Bob DeSando
For Release: April 17, 2000

Accepting the recommendations of a task force comprised
of early childhood experts and practitioners, Commissioner of Education
David C. Hespe today adopted a comprehensive set of expectations and standards
that will serve as a model for quality preschool programs in New Jersey.

Governor Christie Whitman commended the efforts of the
task force, which began its work last fall, and said its recommendations
will better prepare children for academic success by the time they enter
school.

"These expectations will provide children in preschool
programs with developmentally-appropriate experiences that will increase
their knowledge and sharpen their skills," said Governor Whitman.
"The activities recommended by the task force will prepare three-
and four-year-olds to meet our core curriculum content standards."

"The research is clear that the best approach for
early childhood educators to take is to guide, not direct, children's
learning at this age," Hespe said. "Traditional classroom instruction
that relies on workbooks and paper-and-pencil tasks is inappropriate for
a preschool program. What preschoolers need is a nurturing and secure
environment that provides opportunities for play and exploration."

The expectations outlined in the 72-page document that
is being distributed to all school districts is not a curriculum guide.
It is a tool to provide early childhood educators with developmentally
appropriate practices to support and prepare three-and four-year-old children
to enter school.

"The standards of quality developed by the task
force reflects the breadth of experience brought to the table by each
member of the task force," noted Margretta Reid Fairweather, assistant
commissioner for early childhood education. "In addition, we actively
sought and received input from New Jersey's early childhood education
community. Their perspectives and comments helped strengthen the document."

The document, entitled Early Childhood Education Program
Expectations: Standards of Quality, also advises educators to consider
the needs of their communities when designing and implementing an early
childhood program.

"New Jersey has a very diverse population,"
Hespe said. "Early childhood educators should be prepared to build
upon the strengths of our state's diversity and the richness of race,
culture, language and experience that our youngest learners bring to the
classroom."

The document recommends that early childhood programs
should help children who come from homes where English is not the primary
language to communicate proficiently in their non-English home language
in order to promote the learning of English. The task force agreed on
the need for educators to personalize learning for each child and honor
differences in all children.

"An important ingredient in the success of this
effort is for schools and parents to work together and to keep lines of
communication open," Hespe said. "This collaboration will help
children achieve their fullest potential."

"New Jersey has an unbelievable opportunity to provide
quality preschool education programs for its three-and four-year-olds,"
Fairweather said. "This collaboratively developed document is the
foundation upon which quality early childhood education programs in New
Jersey will be built."

The task force appointed by the commissioner in September
1999 was chaired by Barbara Fridy Scott, a nationally known early childhood
education consultant who formerly served as the early childhood supervisor
for the Newark school district, and comprised of early childhood experts
from across the state. These professionals included superintendents, early
childhood supervisors and other practitioners from Abbott districts, licensed
child care providers, Head Start agencies and professors. Parents and
the business community were also represented. The task force provided
expertise in the areas of special education, bilingual education, early
childhood and curriculum development. The Division of Early Childhood
Education provided leadership and assistance throughout the project. In
addition, the department's Office of Standards and Professional Development
provided technical assistance and information.

The panel reviewed current research, curricula, standards
and guidelines developed by local boards of education, other states and
professional organizations. The task force's initial draft was circulated
to over 11,000 membersof the early childhood community and was
posted on the department's website for review and comment. In addition,
three focus groups were convened throughout the state to allow stakeholders
additional opportunities to provide feedback. All comments were considered
by the task force in preparing the final document. Its release today meets
the deadline set by the New Jersey Supreme Court in its latest Abbott
v. Burke ruling. The State Board of Education is scheduled to consider
a resolution in support of the Early Childhood Education Program Expectations:
Standards of Quality at its April 19th meeting.

The department will convene a working group to establish
instructional frameworks and programmatic guidance to ensure that districts
and providers will be able to fulfill the expectations.

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(Note: A
copy of Early Childhood Education Program Expectations: Standards of Quality is attached.)